US pension replaces Cliffwater with Meketa
Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds has selected Meketa as a consultant to oversee its opportunistic investments, which consists of direct lending and opportunistic credit investments, along with investments in hedge funds and real assets.  

Japanese pension fund turns its attention to credit funds
Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has launched a request for information (RFI) on private debt with the institution looking into new assets classes in a bid to generate higher returns  

Robus lifts soft-close from credit fund after capitalising on late-2018 correction
The soft close for Robus Mid-Market Value Bond Fund has been in place since October 2017

New investments drive Canada Pension Plan’s credit returns to 8.7%
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)’s credit portfolio has delivered good returns during the 2019 fiscal year, despite the market volatility, according to the institution’s annual financial report  

US pension fund to commit $1.1 billion in private credit by 2020
Investment consultant NEPC has recommended that Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) commit $550 million in private credit in both 2019 and 2020, according to a private credit review  

BlackRock names global alternatives head amid senior leadership shake-up
BlackRock has reshuffled its leadership and made several senior changes across various parts of its business, according to an internal memo seen by Creditflux

Muzinich launches multi-strategy credit fund with Italian wealth manager
Available for retail investors, the fund will invest in syndicated loans, private debt and high yield. It will be structured as a European Long-Term Investment Fund

Attestor hires former Barclays distressed trader
Attestor Capital has hired a former Barclays distressed credit trader as an analyst

Massachusetts pension seeks multi-sector bond managers
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority Employees’ Retirement System has launched a request for proposals in which it opens the search for multi-sector and specialty lending bond managers  

Illiquid credit boost returns for PensionDanmark
PensionDanmark has generated 5.8% returns from its illiquid credit portfolio for the year 2018, according to its latest annual report published today. But its liquid credit portfolio took a 3.4% hit

Ares grows credit 34% with direct lending boost, but high yield takes rough ride in Q4
Ares Management Corporation reported strong returns for its European direct lending strategies in the fourth quarter of 2018. But the firm's overall revenues slumped and its US loan funds and high yield strategies were hit by the volatile credit market 

Carlyle performance dips in Q4, but credit teams ride global volatility
Credit fund performance dipped for the Carlyle Group in the fourth quarter, as market volatility and fund outflows put a dent in the industry’s much stronger performance of the previous three quarters

Majority of investors seek to increase private credit allocations, BlackRock survey reveals
Over half of investors plan to increase their allocation to private credit in 2019, according to an institutional client rebalancing report published by BlackRock

Muzinich poaches Neuberger Berman MD for top fund distribution role
Muzinich has hired a global head of distribution, according to an announcement today, picking up the role previously held by Joshua Hughes, who left for CIFC Asset Management in May

Eversheds Sutherland promotes debt specialist to partner
Eversheds Sutherland has promoted one of its Washington based lawyers to partner

Blackstone builds on multi-asset approach with fifth fund
The new vehicle will invest directly into Blackstone deals across its alternatives platform

California pension fund seeks opportunistic credit manager
Merced County Employees’ Retirement Association is on the search for an opportunistic credit manager, according to board minutes seen by Creditflux

Ares ups its target for US senior direct lending growth to $4.7 billion
Following $5 billion of inflows into global direct lending in the third quarter, Ares has upped the target for its US direct lending strategy 

Fixed income heads join forces to launch macro credit fund manager in London
Resco Asset Management, a new asset manager based in London, has launched and set about marketing its debut fund: Resco Macro Credit Fund

Pimco generates listed opportunistic energy credit fund
Pimco is eyeing the energy sector for a new opportunistic credit fund, according to US regulatory filings.

Alaska fund appoints CIO
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation (APFC), the $65 billion sovereign wealth fund, has promoted an official to chief investment officer.

M&G targets £250 million for UK-listed multi-strategy credit fund
M&G is targeting £250 million (£328.6 million) for a new closed-end investment trust, which will be listed in the UK

BlackRock becomes latest manager to explore interval fund structure for credit
Several managers have hit the market with the interval fund structure, as investors look to invest in illiquid strategies through an illiquid fund structure

CPPIB hires high profile European credit portfolio manager in London
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has hired an experienced PM who previously worked on CLOs and private credit at Apollo

Stifel builds out leveraged finance team with big hire
The new unit will focus on origination, underwriting, and syndication of leveraged loans and high-yield securities